The man held out his hand and Adam gave it a firm shake, wanting to crush the man while he had the chance, but refrained.
“I’m St. Louis city deputy marshal, Curtis Robbins. I wired you a couple of weeks ago about a woman and child, and you wired back that they were here. I…”
Robbins stopped talking when Jacob, Dagmar, Isaac Connely and his nephew Marcus Brenner filed in and shut the office door. “Why are these other men here for this private conversation?”
“These are my deputies, Robbins, so you may continue.”
“You need four deputies to handle problems in this little squatter town?”
“Yes, we have our share of problems with the herds and cowboys that swarm around nearby Ellsworth this time of year, but they are also the reason we have no problems in Clear Creek.
“So why are you here, Robbins?” Adam refused to call him by his title because of the terror he caused Tate.
The man grinded his jaw side to side, like he was trying to contain his temper. “A Miss Millie Donavon stole my son Tate from my home three weeks ago, and I came to haul…ah, get him back, and to arrest Miss Donavon.”
Adam closed his eyes to think. This man clearly knew his rights, but not as an abusive father. He needed the man to talk and hang the noose around his own neck with some slip of the tongue. “Did you know Miss Donovan? Why would she take your son?”
“I know they are here. So let me have them and I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m not even sure you are who you say you are, sir. You’re in my town now, so you need to answer me.” Adam glanced back at the four men standing against the wall with their arms folded against their chests. Dagmar was doing a very good impression of a mean, towering Viking. “Things are sometimes done a little differently in our ‘squatter’ towns versus your big cities.” Adam tried not to smile when Robbins slightly squirmed in his seat.
“State your case. You’ve interrupted our Sunday service and my appetite for the fried chicken special I was planning to eat at the café afterwards.”
Robbins cleared his throat. “Miss Donovan is my wife’s sister and she didn’t have my permission to take my son from my home.”
“She had her sister’s permission though,” Adam asked, but more or less saying it as a statement.
Adam loved to see the man’s skin color turn pinker. He wanted Robbins to take a swing at him, so he could swing back. “She…my wife…was giving birth to our baby so she wasn’t in any shape to give consent.”
“Congratulations on the new baby. Was it a boy or a girl?”
The man’s stare said it all. He didn’t know. Did he even know where his wife and baby were right now?
“Mister, why are you here when you should be home taking care of your wife and your new baby? I’m sure the boy’s aunt is giving her sister time to recuperate from childbirth without having to take care of a busy toddler. Are you prepared to take care of him on the train ride home, and while your wife is taking care of an infant?”
“Cut the bull and the questions, Marshal. You know I have rights to that boy, and you and your silly townspeople need to hand him and his conniving aunt over to me.”
“Why are you so desperate to get him back? Do you love you son—or need him for your punching bag?”
Robbins pulled a folded paper out of his pocket and slapped it on Adam’s desk. “Here’s the official warrant for the arrest of Miss Donavon…for the murder of my wife, Darcie Robbins. She’s been feeding you a bunch of bull, Marshal Wilerson. She killed my wife, and then stole my child.”
Chills ran up Adam’s spine when he unfolded the paper and read the print. This was indeed a warrant for Millie’s arrest. He had no choice but to turn her and Tate over to this man.
“Jacob, go over to the church and get them.”
Chapter 12
Millie was beyond scared and on to livid when Jacob came over to the church and explained what had happened at the jail. She wasn’t worried about herself, but Tate. Was her sister really dead—or still hiding somewhere and Curtis was trying to flush Darcie out by bringing Millie and Tate back to St. Louis? She strongly suspected the latter and was determined to prove it. She was ready to shoot, both barrels of questions and red temper by the time she swung open the jail door, knocking the door knob straight into Dagmar’s…thigh since he was so tall.
“I want to see that warrant, Marshal Wilerson.” Millie thrust her hand out, ignoring Curtis getting up from his chair.
“You’re under arrest, Millie Donovan for the murder of…”
“Oh, shut up Curtis. I’m reading.”
Robbins started to grab her arm, but thought better of it when five men took a step closer.
“Marshal Wilerson, have you checked with the St. Louis Police Department to be sure this is on their records, and not a forged document?”
Adam didn’t get a chance to answer before Curtis quickly interjected, “He doesn’t need to wire the department because it is real.”
“What was the cause of death then?”
“Uh, blunt force of an object.”
“Where did it happen?”
“At home.”
“Were there any witnesses?”
“No.”
“Wasn’t there someone helping her with your infant son?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know it was me?”
“Uh, a neighbor saw you leave the house and notified me.”
“Where were you when this happened, and why weren’t you there helping take care of your new son?”
“I had things to do so I had to leave for a while.”
Millie paused with her rapid questions, giving Curtis time to think he had proved his accusation. Then she turned on the tears…
“Did you bury her in her favorite blue dress?” she whispered, shocking all six men with her turn of questions.
“Uh…”
“Were there many friends and neighbors at the wake at your home?”
“Uh…”
“Was it Father Devin or Father Tim who conducted the ceremony at the Cathedral?”
“Uh, Father Tim.”
“Marshal Wilerson, be sure to wire to the Cathedral of St. Louis office for the record of Darcie’s service and internment, besides the police department. There would also be a notice in the newspaper of her death, because I’m sure Curtis would have done everything proper for his beloved wife.”
Curtis was losing traction and she wanted to finish nailing his case shut. “How did my father handle his daughter’s death?”
He stared at Millie, knowing he didn’t have a case against her, because no way would Ennis Donovan miss his daughter’s funeral. Curtis lunged at Millie, getting both hands around her neck and getting one hard squeeze in, making Millie drop to her knees before the men wrestled Curtis to the floor.
“Millie…” Adam tried to help Millie off the floor, but she slapped his hand away and crawled up to Curtis’s face which was smashed against the wooden floor.
“I helped deliver your baby girl into the world after you kicked Darcie out of your bedroom, and her name is Amelia Moran.”
Curtis’ shocked look pleased Millie, because it meant that he hadn’t found Darcie. “So, you haven’t seen that child yet…and you never will. And you have no right to Tate either, because I have a signed and notarized paper stating that I am Tate’s guardian now. This was filled out when Darcie filed her divorce papers against you…which I bet you’ve already been served. You thought you could kidnap us, and get Darcie to drop the divorce and come back to you to continue as your punching bag.”
Millie gathered up her skirt to stand and straightened her shoulders. She looked at Curtis first, and then Adam. “Never, ever, under estimate a policeman’s daughter.” She spun on her heel to march out of there before she really blew her curls, but she turned back for one shout, “…or any angry woman for that matter.”
Chapter 13
Adam sat at his desk, looking at the empty ce
ll that had just been vacated. It had been a rough week and he was glad it was over. He couldn’t stand looking at the man who hurt Tate and Millie’s sister. Adam knew it was mean and spiteful, but Robbins got very, very small portions in the meals Adam shoved through the cell bars. Once the food slid off the plate onto the floor and wasn’t replaced. Adam locked the jail up and spent most of the week outside so he could get away from the rants of the lunatic.
Sunday afternoon had been spent wiring the St. Louis police station, and waiting for a wire reply. As it turned out, there was a warrant out for Curtis, for beating up another policeman to the point the officer died, but not before telling the chief of police who had done it to him.
Adam was told to keep Robbins in the Clear Creek jail until he was picked up by authorities. There was a U.S. Marshal coming through on a train from Denver, so he would transport Robbins back to St. Louis.
The wires to the Cathedral and the St. Louis newspaper were answered on Monday, with no knowledge of the deaths of Darcie or her baby. That could be good or bad news. Robbins swore he didn’t know where they were of course, so they were either hiding or buried in a shallow grave somewhere. Adam shuddered, thinking of a woman looking like Millie going through…either situation.
The police checked on the Robbins’s neighbor where Millie had left Darcie, but her house was empty. Adam even wired back to the Chicago police, trying to send a message to Mr. Donovan that Robbins was arrested, but that Darcie and her baby hadn’t been found yet.
And Adam came home Sunday evening to an empty house. There was no evidence of the woman and child who had been living in his home. Millie even took the tins of sugar and cookies with her, because he looked, needing a cookie, even if Millie wasn’t there to give him a Baker’s Kiss.
Henry filled him in on the outside activity while they were in the jail that afternoon. Hilda, on Nutcracker, had high-tailed it out of town with Tate in the saddle in front of her as soon as the jailhouse door was shut when he and Robbins went to talk.
Cate, Sarah and Rania arrived at his house shortly after that in a wagon, and had the wagon full and ready to leave when Millie stormed out of the jailhouse and boarded the wagon, never stepping a foot in his house.
And no one had breathed a word of where Millie and Tate were now. The men in town were clueless and the women were ignoring him. He had tried his best to protect Millie and Tate, but it seems like the female population in town thought otherwise. He was back to eating all his meals at the café and darn if something wasn’t burned on his plate every meal. It didn’t matter if it was chicken or pie, Edna Clancy had it out for him. Of course it didn’t help that he’d been spoiled on Millie’s cooking and baking.
Out of habit he pulled Millie’s letters out of the desk drawer. The paper edges were getting worn from him reading each one and putting them back into the envelopes so much. Why was he punishing himself by doing this? Because he loved Millie, and truly missed seeing her in his home. No, not his home, it should be their home.
The situation with Robbins was settled and time for him to get Millie home, only he was ready for her to be his bride, not his housekeeper. He eyed the letters on his desk, thinking of a way to propose.
Adam looked up as the door opened, pleased to finally see his mother again. She had been avoiding him, too.
“Hello, Ma. Robbins was picked up an hour ago, so it’s safe for Millie and Tate to come back to town now.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Any word on Millie’s sister or baby?”
Adam blew out a breath and shook his head. “I’ve wired everywhere I could think of to find a clue of their whereabouts, plus Chicago again trying to find her father.” He wiped his hand across his face in frustration. “The three of them have disappeared, either trying to hide, or Robbins got to them first and isn’t admitting what he did.”
Cate nodded in agreement. “It’s very possible we’ll never know what happened to them. Then Millie really will be raising Tate.”
“I assume you know where they are, Ma?” Adam asked his mother. She just shrugged her shoulders at his statement. Adam asked Jacob two days ago if Millie and Tate were at any of their places out in the country, but he said no. The women had taken them someplace else.
“I’ve been thinking about writing for a mail-order bride, Ma,” Adam said as he ran his finger on the edge of the paper he had been reading…again. “When I read Millie’s letters, I was intrigued by getting to know a person by their words and how they wrote their thoughts out. It made me…listen to the person talking without being distracted by outside things.”
“And how are you going to advertise for this mail-order bride?”
“There’s only one person I’d like to apply for the position, and I’m hoping that a special ‘mail-carrier’ can get it to her.” Adam held his breath, waiting for his mother’s reaction. He had disappointed her so badly with the whole situation until now.
“You write the letter and I’ll see if delivery can be arranged,” his mother said with a slight smile on her face. “Shall I do a little shopping and come back here before I leave for the ranch?”
“Yes, please. I’d appreciate your help.” Adam relished the pat his mother gave him on the arm. But then she turned and walked out the door without another word. He sighed, knowing he needed to get back in the good graces of several women.
Adam pulled a piece of paper from his desk and then took the cap off his ink jar. He stared at the paper, wishing the jumbled words in his head could flow onto the paper without all the interference that was plaguing his mind. He took a deep breath and starting writing his thoughts and wishes down to the woman he loved.
***
He waved the piece of stationery to dry the ink, then folded and stuffed it in an envelope before he changed his mind. Adam didn’t know what he would do if Millie didn’t respond back. He had found his true love, but had blown his first chance with her. Adam wiped his face, and then folded his hands in prayer, wishing for a second chance. Please let her write back, and with a positive answer.
Adam looked up when the door opened.
“You weren’t gone very long, Ma.”
“Actually I just walked a few blocks to give you time to write your letter. Ready for your letter to be delivered?”
“Are you sure I can’t deliver it in person?”
“Let Millie make the first move, Adam. It’s her choice if she wants to marry you, or even stay in Kansas. Please don’t push her.”
“Do I have a choice?” he asked. His mother shrugged her shoulders again, but at least she had a smile on her face.
***
Millie sat on the porch of the Cross C Ranch house, staring at the vast open landscape that lay before the house. The grass rolled over one hill, disappearing in a valley then rolled up into view again. And not a tree in sight…
She had grown to respect and admire the Kansas prairie, knowing it can be dangerous due to weather or circumstances, but at least you usually “saw trouble coming” as Adam once told her.
She missed the house in town with a deep passion that surprised her. It had become home, and she missed the simple life of Clear Creek, the townspeople—good and bad who made up the character of the town. You couldn’t blend into the background like Chicago, but here people cared, honestly and truly cared.
Millie looked around the ranch yard to find Tate down by the corrals with Isaac. Although Isaac wasn’t much over forty, his silver hair made Tate think of the man as a grandfather figure, and Tate adored him. The boy had grown in weight, height and self-esteem since fleeing St. Louis. She had done the right thing for her sister’s child. And without any word from her sister, Millie had accepted the fact that she was indeed Tate’s guardian and would be raising him by herself.
Stop playing the past over and over in your mind, Millie. Think ahead.
But what was ahead? Millie didn’t know if Adam would want her back in town after her outburst in the jailhouse. She was mad when Adam didn’t quest
ion Curtis’s plot right away and her temper had flared red hot when she marched in on the men. Millie still couldn’t believe Adam thought that was a real warrant for her arrest, but then she hadn’t talked to him since then. Maybe he was dealing with it in his own way when she butted in. But oh it felt good to speak her mind to Curtis while his face was smashed to the floor. She could have kicked a pointed boot toe up his nose too, but then she’d be no better than he was, beating on a person.
Should she stay on the Cross C Ranch as Isaac’s housekeeper? The ranch’s housekeeper recently moved away, so Millie had taken over her duties. It was a nice home, but only Isaac and Marcus to keep house for so she had time to play with Tate, and watch the quiet life of the ranch from this porch. But Isaac was good friends with the Wilersons, so it would be hard to be around Adam if he and she weren’t together.
Tate would do wonderful here, but he’d need to go to school in a few years, and she still wanted to marry and have a family too. Should she move on to a bigger city to find a job, or stay here, looking at the view and wishing for more?
Millie heard Tate’s excited squeal before noticing the buggy coming up the drive. She stepped off the porch and shaded her eyes to see who their visitor was. Any company would be welcome on this quiet afternoon.
She recognized the horse, and then the driver as the buggy pulled to a stop beside Isaac and Tate. As soon as Cate stepped down to the ground, Tate launched himself at her. He had grown so attached to Cate, and all of the Wilersons.
Millie hadn’t talked to Cate’s family since they moved her and Tate out to the Cross C.
Because Isaac had been in the office with Adam last Sunday, he told her what had happened after Millie left. She wasn’t surprised that Curtis, with his temper, was wanted for a murder and was in the Clear Creek jail waiting for transportation back to St. Louis.
Hopefully, Cate was coming out with more news now.
Tate jumped up and down while holding Cate’s hand and walking towards the house. Millie took a deep breath, dreading the meeting, but needing to know if Adam had found her sister yet. And she wanted to know how Adam was doing. Was he missing her and Tate, or glad they were gone from his house? Had he and Cate even talked?
Millie Marries a Marshal Page 8